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Translation of an article from German car magazine "Auto/Strassenverkehr"

Already driven: Eight cylinder turbo diesel with common-rail direct-ignition

Photo: DaimlerChrysler     Additional preparation for the web by MBEP webmaster   1999 photo showing the engine in the S-Class W220

Mercedes wants to have it's nose in front at the race for the strongest diesel. Whilst BMW and Audi presented their eight cylinders as show samples only on the Frankfurt IAA ((1997)) the Stuttgarters already invited for the first driving date. An E-Class is the test object for the Mercedes V8 which builds very slim with a cylinder angle of 75 degrees. A real power station: 238 hp and a maximum torque of 560 Nm at only 2000 revs. For comparison: The twelve-cylinder Ferrari 456 has 550 Nm.The V8 from Stuttgart offers everything which is good and expensive: Aluminium crank-case, high-pressure ignition via the common-rail principle, four valve technique and two turbochargers with adjustable vanes which - to avoid a turbo hole - press air into the cylinders at low revs already. A pilot-ignition before the normal ignition reduces the combustion noise and a balance shaft eliminates vibrations.
This E-Class shall sprint from 0-62 mph in 7 seconds and consume a sensational eight litres every hundred kilometres ((29,405 mpg US = 35,3175 mpg GB)).
First driving impression: The V8 diesel runs silent as a gasoline engine and has bear's powers. But with the automatic transmission it doesn't come to full development - there's a better adjustment needed. And at low speeds the big self-igniter still seems to be a bit rough. The time schedule: The V8 starts in the new S-Class ((W220)) in March 1999 and half a year later in the E-Class and in the M-Class
((Update: The introduction of the engine in all three car lines has been postponed)).
And in the year 2000 Mercedes goes on arming - then the V-superdiesel with ten cylinders and around 300 hp will come.

Technical data
Displacement 3996 ccm
Power 175kw/238hp at 4200 rpm
Torque 560 Nm at 2200 rpm
0-62 mph 7.0 sec.
Max. speed  n/a
Fuel consumption EG-mpg l/100Km ca. 8.0 Diesel

End of article - translaton by MBEP webmaster. As usual remarks in ((blabla)).

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Last revised: Jan. 25th 2000  Visits since Feb. 21st '98.

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